The authorities said that the deceased, identified as Islam Ali Sayyed, had gone to answer nature’s call when the Aurangabad-bound bus he was travelling in halted.

When Islam did not return to the bus, his colleague Farag went to check on him and found him lying unconscious on the toilet floor.

The deceased’s brother Aftar said, “Islam was a contractor and had visited Aurangabad for some work. Farag had accompanied him. On their way back to the city, their bus halted at a dhaba. My brother went to the restroom and was later found dead in the toilet.”

Aftar added that the tragedy didn’t end there. Initially, the bus driver and conductor refused to let Farag bring the body aboard the bus. “Only after much persuasion did they allow Farag to carry my brother’s body on the bus. But they did not allow him to place the body on a seat. So my brother’s body was laid on the floor of the bus for the entire journey.”

Aftar added that instead of rushing his brother to a nearby hospital, the driver continued till Kasara and dropped the two off in the middle of the road, following which his family members managed to reach the spot and take them to a nearby hospital. The case was first registered with the Naupada police and then transferred to Kasara police.

“The victim might have fainted, after which a major head injury could have taken place. But the family members feel that Islam has been murdered,” said Inspector Patil of Naupada police station.

Suspecting foul play, Aftar said, “According to the doctor’s report, my brother died because of serious injuries which couldn’t have been caused unless someone hit him on the head with an iron rod or some other weapon.”